Roller attachment for chairs



Dec. 11, 1951 F. J PLACEREAN 2,578,438

ROLLER ATTACHMENT FOR CHAIRS Filed Oct. 16, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HA5 HTTO/P/VEY 11,1951 F. J. PLACEREAN 2,578,488

ROLLER ATTACHMENT FOR CHAIRS Filed Oct. 16, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 1951 F. J. PLACEREAN 2,578,488

- RQLLER ATTACHMENT FOR CHAIRS Filed Oct. 16, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @ii I! 7" Fig /5 INVENTOR. F/mvk JZA AcEKEH/V BYE Mb" ATTORNEY arm 31 laterally to release lever 29. has its upper end fixed to a cross rail of the chair, assisted by the Weight of the chair and its occupant.

The means for releasably locking the lever 29 de ressed, with the casters in chair supporting position, c mprises, preferably, an arm 3'! having its upper end pivoted at 38 on the front cross rail 36 of the seat frame. The lower end of the arm is recessed at 40 for swinging into engagement with the upper side of the lever in the depressed position of the latter. A shoulder M on the arm limits the movement of the arm in lever en aging direction, under the pull of a coiled tension spring 42 having one end fixed to the arm and the other end fixed to the leg l6 of the chair. A rod 43 is loosely connected at one end to the locking arm 31 and at its other end to an oscillating disk 44 pinned at 45 to the rear side of the chair leg H. A

handle rod 46 has its lower end loosely connected with the disk at 41 and this rod slides loosely through a keeper, or staple, 48, adjacent its upper end which is bent, above the staple, to form a handle 49. An upward pull on the handle oscillates disk 44 to pull rod 43 outwardly and swing A strut 56 chair seat (Fig. 6) and its depending lower end is notched at 52 to receive and guide the lever 29 .between it and the arm 31, as the lever moves upwardly to released position. A stop shoulder 53.

on the strut 50 limits the upward movement of the lever, Fig. 5.

. in Fig. 6, to more positively support the rests in the released position of the parts.

It is evident from the above description that with the lever 29 in its released or upper position, thechair remains stationary with its legs resting on the door, the rests 54 forming comfortable supports for the feet of the occupant. To convert the chair to a portable condition, the attendant presses downwardly with his foot on the forward end of lever 29, until arm 31 is swung by its spring across the top of the lever, to lock it in lowered position, thereby forcing the casters downwardly so as to rest and support the chair with its legs clear of the fioor. In this position also the foot rests 154 become horizontal, to better sup ort the feet of the occupant of the chair while the chair is wheeled from one position to another. To lower the chair a ain in a stationary condition, the occupant, or the attendant, pulls upwardly on handle 49 assisted, if necessary, by downward pressure on the forward end of the lever, so as to swin arm 3! clear of the lever and allow it to be raised by the weight of the chair and its occupant, as well as the spring 35, the lever then being engaged against its stop shoulder 53 and the parts occupying the position shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 6.

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 7 to 15, inclusive, in which the construction and arrangement of the parts are generally the same, except that the operatin lever 56 is fixed at 51 to the front caster bar 24, instead of to the rear bar 25 as in the above construction. The lever is equipped with a-depending roller 58, as before, for engagement wi h a 4 short bar 59 fixed to the under side of the rear caster bar 25. But in this case the lever has its rear end 60 extended beyond the back of the chair within reach of the foot of the operator. A tensioned spring 6|, fixed to the chair frame and to bar 59, tends to raise the latter and the lever to normally raise the casters as described above. Means are provided for releasably locking the lever in depressed position with the casters lowered, as hereafter described.

This modified locking means comprises, preferably, a pair of spaced dogs 62 and 63, Figs. 8 to by invalids. embodying the invention comprises but few 11,, inclusive, pivoted at 64 and 65, respectively, to the rear side of the rear caster bar 25. The inner side of the upper end of each dog is formed with a shoulder, or hook, as 66, adapted to engage above the upper side of the lever 56 when the latter is pressed down into horizontal position on the upper side of the caster bar 25. The lower end of each dog hasan inwardly projecting lug, as 61, and a coiled compression spring 68 is mounted on these opposing lugs so as to separate the lower ends of the dogs and urge their upper hook-shaped ends into engagement with the upper side of the lever 56 to lock the latter in depressed position. Stop pins, as 69, limit the inward movement of the upper hook ends of the dogs which are formed with inclined cam faces, as 15, and it will be seen that, as lever 56 is depressed, its lower corners engage these cam faces and spread the dogs apart until their upper hook ends snap back over the top of the lever and lock it in lowered position.

Means are provided for tripping this modified locking device, comprising, preferably, a treadle H hinged at 12 on the top side of the lever. The end 13 of this treadle extends rearwardly beyond the dogs 62 and 63 and it is slightly wider than the lever 56. When the lever is depressed between and spreads the dogs 62 and 63, the latter raise the treadle H as shown in Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive, so as not to interfere with the locking of the lever. To releasethe latter, treadle H is pressed by the foot down against the lever, thereby spreading the dogs apart as shown in Fig. 8. On release of the treadle, lever 55 rises under the weight of the chair and its occupant and the spring 6|, without interference by the dogs in the spread position .to' which they are forced by the depression of the treadle and the sides of the lever. This modified embodiment has the same foot rests 54 and is otherwise operated as described above in connection with the preferred embodiment.

It is evident that the invention provides a simple and practical mechanism adapted to be readily attached to the legs of ordinary chairs and to be conveniently'operated by depressing a single lever, as 29 or 56,for converting the chair to one supported on casters for rolling easily about a room, being particularly suitable for use At the same time, the mechanism parts of relatively simple construction adapted to be readily manufactured and applied to a chair at a relatively low cost.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects and while it has v.been herein disclosed by reference to. the details of preferred embodiments, it is to' be understood that such disclosure is intended in'an illustra tive, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that variousjmodifications in Q the construction and arrangement ofpthe parts will eadily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spiritof theeinventionand-the scope of the I claim: V. 1. A framaan l e fix d to said frame-,two rigid members each hinged to.

and ,eonnecting the legssmi-opposite pairsathereof,

opposite ongof said members-to effect swinging movement thereof for lowering said roller means below-said legs to supp'ortsaidphairfopgolli-ng --movement.

2. A chair having a seat frame and legs fixed to said frame, two members each hinged to and connecting the legs of opposite pairs thereof, respectively, roller means depending from said members, and a lever fixed to one of said members and movably and releasably engaging the other thereof to effect simultaneous swinging movement of said members for lowering said roller means below said legs to support said chair for rolling movement.

3. A chair having a seat frame and legs fixed to said frame, two members each hinged to and connecting the legs of opposite pairs thereof, respectively, roller means depending from said members, a bearing means connected to one of said members and a lever fixed to the other of said members and having roller means positioned for engagement with said bearing means to effect swinging movement of said members for lowering said roller means below said legs to support said chair for rolling movement.

4. A chair having a seat frame and legs fixed to said frame, two rigid bars each hinged to and connecting the legs of opposite pairs thereof casters depending from the opposite ends of each of said bars, and foot operated lever means connected with one of said bars, means for releasably connecting said lever to the opposite one of said bars to effect swinging movement thereof for lowering said roller means below said legs to support said chair for rolling movement.

5. A chair having a seat frame and legs fixed to said frame, two rigid bars each hinged to and connecting the legs of opposite pairs thereof, respectively, casters depending from said bars, a bearing means fastened to one of said bars, and a lever fixed to the other of said bars and having means in bearing engagement with said bearing means to effect simultaneous swinging movement of said bars for lowering the said casters below said legs to support said chair for rolling movement.

6. A chair having a seat frame and legs fixed to said frame, two rigid members each hinged to and connecting the legs of opposite pairs thereof, respectively, roller means depending from said members, lever means connected with one of said members, means fer releasably connecting saidlever to the opposite one of said members to effect swinging movement thereof forlowering said roller means below said legs to support said chair for rolling movement, means for looking said lever means with said roller means in lowered position, and manipulative means for tripping said locking means to release said roller means and support said chair on said legs.

7.;A chair having a seat frame and legs fixed to said frame, two rigid bars each hinged to and connecting the legs of opposite pairs ,;thereof, respectively, casters depending from said bars, a lever fixed to one of said bars and releasably wen'gagingetheothentherecf to efiectsimultaneous ---.-swinging-.--movement '-of said-bars: for- --lowering s said oastersebelowisaidlegs to support said :chair fort rolling; movement, means for. locking said 1.. lever withsaid casters 1 in J lowered. position, and =.-manipulative-meansi for tripping: said locking means 1 to release said. casters and support-said chair -on=-saidi legs.

I 8.- A ehairhaving aseat-frame and legs -fixed to said frame, two rigid bars .eachhinged totand connecting the legs of oppositeipairs thereofyrespeotivelyoasters depending from said bars, a lever fixed to one of said bars and releasably engaging the other thereof to effect simultaneous swinging movement of said bars in one direction for lowering said casters below said legs to support said chair for rolling movement, spring means for moving said lever in the opposite direction, and means for releasably locking said lever with said casters in lowered position.

9. A chair having a seat frame and legs fixed to said frame, two bars each hinged to and connecting the legs of each of the front and rear pairs of said legs, respectively, casters depending from said bars, and a lever fixed to the rear one of said bars and releasably engaging the front bar to effect swinging movement of said bars for lowering said casters below said legs to support said chair for rolling movement.

10. A chair having a substantially rectangular seat frame and legs fixed to the corners of said frame, bars hinged to the front and rear pairs of said legs, respectively, casters depending from said bars, a lever fixed to the rear one of said bars and projecting forwardly of the front bar in releasable engagement therewith to effect simultaneous swinging movement of said bars for lowering said casters below said legs to support said chair for rolling movement, foot rest means projecting forwardly from said front bar, spring means for moving said lever and said front bar in the opposite direction for raising said casters, and means for releasably locking said lever with said casters in lowered position.

11. A chair having a substantially rectangular seat frame and legs fixed to the corners of said frame, bars hinged to the front and rear pairs of said legs, respectively, casters depending from said bars, a lever fixed to the front one of said bars and projecting rearwardly of the rear bar in releasable engagement therewith to effect swinging movement of said bars for lowering said casters below said legs to support said chair for rolling movement, and means for releasably locking said bar with said rollers in lowered position.

12. A chair having a substantially rectangular seat frame and legs fixed to the corners of said frame, bars hinged to the front and rear pairs of said legs, respectively, casters depending from said bars, a lever fixed to the front one of said bars and extending rearwardly of the rear bar in releasable engagement therewith to effect swinging movement of said bars for lowering said roller below said legs to support said chair for rolling movement, foot rest means on said front bar, spring means for raising said lever and said rear bar for raisingsaid casters, and means for releasably locking said lever to said rear bar with said casters in lowered position.

13. A chair having a substantially rectangular seat frame and legs fixed to the corners of said frame, a bar hinged to and connecting the legs of each of the front and rear pairs thereof,

casters depending from the opposite ends of said 7 8 bars, a lever fixed to one of said bars and project- 7, REFERENCES CITED mg across the other bar in releasable engage" The following references are of record in the 'ment therewith to effect simultaneous swinging file of this patent: movement of said bars for lowering said casters below said legs to support said chair for rolling 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS movement, foot rest means projecting forwardly Number Name Date from said front bar, spring means for moving 466,573 Platto Jan. 5,1892 said lever and said other bar in the opposite 559,424 Weiland t a1 May 5, 1896 direction for raising said casters, and means for 756,419 sh k r A r, 5, 1904 releasably locking said lever with said casters in 1 1,421,260 Kurnick June 27, 1922 lowered position.

FRANK J. PLACEREAN. FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 460,935 Great Britain Feb. 8, 1937 

